Shortly before the hour of three struck, Will came into the bedroom where my uncle and I were discussing fabrics for my new wardrobe.
"Our guest has arrived. I've placed him in the parlor so that the two of you may interview him."
"But surely you will attend, Will." I said. "I need your help. I've never interviewed a prospective employee before and I barely know where to begin."
"And I'm no help, we all know what sort of blaggards I employ." said my uncle.
Will, ignoring my uncle and turning to me replied, "I'll be most happy to assist. Now, come along. It makes a poor impression to be tardy."
He stepped aside and allowed my uncle and my self to precede him out of the doorway. As my uncle passed him, I heard the distinct sound of a stinging slap landing on his buttocks.
We descended the stairway and entered the parlor where my prospective assistant waited, standing in the center of the room. He was a slender young Negro man of approximately my own age. As tall as I, he had the medium dark skin with reddish tones that is always so attractive. His hair was shorn close to his head and lay in natural waves and he had eyes of a light red brown color. He also wore a pleasant half smile and I immediately warmed to him.
"Please, sit down." my uncle said indicating one of the many chairs scattered about the room. "Good manners are a sign of breeding but you will find that we are very informal here."
"This is Philip." Will said as he drew two chairs together so that they might sit side by side. "Hopefully you will find him as well suited as I do."
As Philip crossed to sit down I was struck by his almost feline grace of movement.
"I hardly know what to ask you." I said, seating myself. "I have never employed anyone nor had an assistant before. I suppose I should ask if you have experience in the position."
"I have experience in a variety of capacities." Philip said, speaking for the first time. His voice was low and husky but with a sweet timbre. "I have been working from a very early age and I am sure I can meet all of your requirements."
"Philip was orphaned as a baby." Will stated.
"You have my sympathies." I said. "I, too, was orphaned. Do you have empathetic relatives?"
"I have an uncle and several cousins with whom a lodged until I was of an age to work." Philip replied. "My uncle is a very kind man but I've always felt that I must not be a burden on others."
"An admirable outlook." my uncle said. "Has Will informed you of what your duties are to be? We are a strictly masculine household and have some customs that others might find unusual. Also, we all tend to be immodest. Would that make you uncomfortable?"
"In the right company, I tend toward the immodest myself." Philip stated. "Will has told me a great deal about your household and its customs and I think I would fit in well with your routines."
"I have no further questions." my uncle said.
"When would you be prepared to begin?" I asked.
"I can start today." Philip replied.
"I took the liberty of asking Philip to bring his belongings with him, so sure was I that he is the perfect person to fill this position." Will said.
"So, Will had already decided and he just wanted us to feel we had some input." my uncle said, pouting. "Did Will also tell you that he beats me?"
"Sometimes physical punishment is the only remedy for a truculent child. Just ignore him, he's read too many cheap novels." Will said.
"I see nothing wrong with occasionally beating a mischievous employer." Philip said, smiling.
"I say, I do believe that you are perfect for this position." my uncle replied.
"What wages would you request?" I asked, striving to bring the conversation back on topic.
Philip named a sum which even to my untrained ear sounded extremely low.
"Are you sure that you understand the requirements of this job?" I asked. "You will be required to live here and perform as many duties as Will is charged with."
"It is the rate at which Negroes are usually paid." Will said.
"What utter nonsense." I replied. "Philip, do you intend to do less than Will or to be here less often?"
"Most assuredly not!" Philip said, somewhat offended.
"Will, may I ask what my uncle pays you if I'm not being too inquisitive?"
Will named a sum considerably higher than what Philip had requested.
"And do you think that that is a fair salary?" I asked.
"To assist you, it is more than fair." Will said. "For your uncle, all of the riches of the Orient are sometimes not sufficient recompense."
"Flattery will get you nowhere." my uncle replied.
"Would you be upset if Philip were the same amount as yourself?" I asked.
"Of course not." Will replied. "A man should be paid what the job is worth."
"Sir, that's not how it's done." Philip said. "When word gets out it could cause all sorts of trouble for you and myself."
"Then word must not get out. I know that none of us will be indiscreet so there is nothing to worry about. I have a banker friend who I am sure will be happy to have you as a customer. I'll arrange to have your salary transferred into your own account monthly and no one except you will have access or know what you possess. Would that be satisfactory?"
I saw that Will slyly gripped Philip's hand and squeezed it.
"I will do everything possible to be worthy of your trust." Philip replied. "You are more than kind."
"Right, then that's settled." Will said, drawing Philip up by his arm. "I'll show you where you may stow your things and then we have work to do. It isn't easy taking care of these two great layabouts. And you," he addressed me, "take your poor uncle back and lock him in his room in the attic. He's been free long enough today."
"Come, uncle," I said, "its back to the shackles for you."
"You see how I'm treated in my own house." my uncle said to Philip. "I'm a veritable saint to put up with it."
Philip disappeared with Will and I didn't see him again until supper time. The house, meanwhile, had been pervaded by appetizing aromas and I deduced that Will was making a celebratory dinner in Philip's honor.
When my uncle and I were summoned to table we were both all but speechless with the excellent arrangement before us. Fine china, candles, crystal all shone from the beautifully laid table. I could see how pleased my uncle was. I also noticed that there were only three places laid.
We were seated and Will and Philip carried dish after dish of vegetables and roasted meat to set before us. Each dish was beautifully prepared and the aromas were intoxicating.
"I had no idea that you were such an accomplished cook." I said to Will.
"Much as I'd like to take credit, this is all of Philip's doing." Will said. "I was just the none too handy assistant."
My uncle turned to Philip and said, "For starved prisoners used to a diet of cold potatoes and salt cod prepared by the evil Will, you have no idea how appreciated your labors are. Thank you most heartily."
"And maybe I'll cut off your privilege of dining on my cod whenever you feel like it." Will told my uncle.
Philip smiled and turned to return to the kitchen.
"But where are you going?" my uncle asked him.
"I thought that I would dine in the kitchen." Philip replied.
"Of course you won't." my uncle said. "Such fine food deserves fine conversation and I'm anxious to hear your views on a number of subjects."
He rose and laid a place setting at his side with all of the precision of the rest of the table.
"Now, sit beside me and protect me from Will's mindless prattle." he told Philip.
"That cod is swimming further and further away." Will said to the table at large.
Our supper was delicious and my uncle and Philip discussed many things, finding a shared interest in fine wines that had them chattering. Will and I looked on, bemused.
When we had all eaten our fill, I stood and began to gather the dirty dishes.
"Here, that's our job." Will said as he and Philip got to their feet. "We'll take care of the clean up and that way we can have a good gossip in the kitchen while you two make yourselves scarce. Off you go."
He made shooing motions with his hands and my uncle and I retreated to the parlor.
Before we left the room my uncle said to Philip, "Don't believe anything he tells you about me."
My uncle had adopted the habit of smoking a Moorish bubble pipe, something of a fad in those days, and we sat in the parlor listening to the vague murmurs, splashes and laughter coming from the scullery.
At length, Will appeared in the doorway, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and hands on hips.
"If your majesty is ready, it's time for a tubbing." he said to my uncle.
"Such a scold and so demanding." my uncle replied.